What is the meaning of Numbers 21:15? Even the slopes of the wadis - Picture the dramatic ravines cut by the Arnon River. A wadi is a streambed that is bone-dry most of the year and a rushing torrent after heavy rain (Job 6:15-17). - “Slopes” reminds us that God sees not just the river itself but every bank, ledge, and crag. Nothing in His created landscape is outside His care (Psalm 95:4-5). - By recording this topography in the “Book of the Wars of the LORD” (v. 14), Scripture underscores that the Lord’s victories are anchored in real geography, not myth or legend—just as the Red Sea crossing took place at an identifiable sea (Exodus 14:21-22). That extend to the site of Ar - Ar was the principal city of Moab (Deuteronomy 2:9), perched near the Arnon gorge. - Israel did not conquer Ar; the Lord had earlier said, “Do not harass Moab” (Deuteronomy 2:9). The verse therefore traces the wadi slopes “extending” up to, but stopping short of, that city—marking how precisely God kept His word. - This detail assures us that God draws clear lines: He grants lands, withholds lands, and expects His people to honor those boundaries (Acts 17:26). And lie along the border of Moab - The Arnon River served as Moab’s northern border (Judges 11:13). By naming it, Moses roots Israel’s journey in a specific place on the map. - The verse quietly highlights God’s faithfulness: He is guiding Israel right to the edge of the Promised Land, yet steering them clear of territory He has assigned to others (Numbers 22:36; Deuteronomy 2:18). - The border language also foreshadows God’s future protection. Just as He kept Israel within safe, ordained paths here, He will later preserve them against Moab’s schemes through Balaam (Numbers 24:9-10). summary Numbers 21:15 paints a literal snapshot of steep ravines carved by the Arnon, stretching up to Moab’s city of Ar and hugging Moab’s border. Each geographic note testifies that God leads His people through real terrain, honors His covenant boundaries, and orchestrates every slope and streambed for their good and His glory. |
    |